Illinois Legislature

Gov. JB Pritzker talks about the recently concluded legislative session during a news conference Sunday in office at the Capitol in Springifield. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)

Despite budget approval, much is in limbo after session

May 24, 2020

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers approved a state operating budget shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, but despite the passage of… Login to continue reading Login…

Rep. Keith R. Wheeler, R-Oswego, asks questions during debate of SB 671, a bill extending emergency rules on telehealth provisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, during an extended session of the Illinois House of Representatives on Saturday at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. (Pool photo/Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]

Legislature looks at telehealth care bills

May 24, 2020

By BEN ORNER Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — A pair of health care bills expanding telehealth resources during the COVID-19 pandemic passed the Illinois… Login to continue reading Login…

Rep. Kelly M. Burke, D-Evergreen Park, talks with Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, after SB 2135, a bill which makes changes to government operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday during an extended session of the Illinois House of Representatives at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield. (Pool photo by Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register)

Restore Illinois commission bill passes after removal of remote session, FOIA delay language

May 24, 2020

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – A broad-ranging bill creating a limited oversight panel of the governor’s Restore Illinois plan among other… Login to continue reading Login…

Senate GOP: Stay in session until we have bipartisan reopening plan

May 23, 2020

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – On just the third day of legislative session since March 5, Senate Republicans called a socially… Login to continue reading Login…

Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, delivers his remarks during debate on the Senate floor at the Illinois State Capitol on Friday in Springfield. (Pool photo by Justin L. Fowler/State Journal-Register)

Lawmakers eying $41 billion budget with $5 billion in borrowing

May 23, 2020

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers worked into the evening Friday and will return Saturday in hopes of passing a… Login to continue reading Login…

Protesters outside the Bank of Springfield Center in the capital's downtown call for Illinois to reopen sooner than the timeline provided in Gov. JB Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan. Members of the state House met inside the arena for the first of a three-day special session Wednesday. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Orner)

House GOP calls for — but doesn’t expect — vote on reopening plan

May 20, 2020

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — House Republicans are calling for — but not expecting — a vote to be taken on… Login to continue reading Login…

Republican Reps. (from left) Keith Wheeler, Deanne Mazzochi and Brad Halbrook speak during a video news conference Tuesday about plans to attempt to block new emergency rules that make it a crime for certain businesses to violate Gov. JB Pritzker's order for nonessential businesses to remain closed. (Credit: Zoom.us)

Republicans hope to block rules making some business openings a crime

May 20, 2020

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Republicans in the Illinois House said Tuesday they will attempt to block an emergency rule from… Login to continue reading Login…